Mufti Kifayatullah, one of the founders of Jamiat-i-Ulama-i-Hind and Jamia Millia Islamia, is one of those very few Indians (less than 10), who had been praised by Subhas Chandra Bose in his radio broadcasts from Germany and Japan for their role in the Indian Freedom Struggle.
On 31 August 1942, Subhas Chandra Bose said in a broadcast from Germany, “I appeal to the Jamiat-ul-Ulema, the old representative organisation of the Ulemas or the Muslim divines of India led by that distinguished patriot and leader Mufti Kifayat Ullah….. if all these organisations join in this struggle the day of India’s liberation will be drawn nearer.”
In another radio broadcast on 6 October 1942, Bose said, “… the All-India Jamiat-i-Ulema whose brave leader Mufti Kifayat Ullah is in prison, all these and other organisations that stand for India’s independence should come forward and give a fitting reply to the false assertions of arrogant British politicians.”
Mufti Kifayatullah whose most common introduction in Muslim households is as the author of Talim-ul-Islam, was imprisoned twice for taking part in anti-British agitations. At a time when most of the political prisoners would either shun the nationalist creed for the favours from the British or receive monetary help from the Indian National Congress, Kifayatullah declined both the offers.
When Kifayatullah was arrested a message was sent to him through a member of the Viceroy Council, Mian Sir Fazl Husayn, saying, “The British government requests you to separate yourself from the political movement. In return, the government will give you as a gift the royal building and grounds of the Madrasah Safdar Jang for your own personal self. Our purpose is not that you should support the British government or engage in propaganda on its behalf but we just want you to remain silent and stay away from politics.”
The British were not asking him to support them. They wanted him to remain silent on the question of freedom of India. The message was responded to by Kifayatullah in clear terms. He said, “I have not joined the freedom movement for personal enrichment. Thank you very much for your offer but no enticement will be able to silence my voice.”
This was a practice that Congress would bear expenses of its imprisoned cadre. Their families, lawsuits etc. were taken care of by a fund maintained by Congress. The funds were raised through public donations.
Maulana Karimuddin Merathi recalled, “During the civil disobedience of 1930, the Jamiatul-Ulamâ was in such dire straits that there was no money at all in the funds and several months passed without salaries. Moti Lal Nehru offered monetary assistance from the Congress funds. At that time, Mufti Kifâyatullâh had been imprisoned but was still in the jail of Delhi, so when consulted upon this matter he said, ‘In the struggle for independence, we have not taken assistance or support from anyone else. Our efforts for liberation of our land are our religious obligation. If we cannot sustain the operation of the Jamiat, then we will close the offices.’”
Kifayatullah never accepted any favour for fighting for the country. For him, it was his religious duty. Jawaharlal Nehru pointed out later that he was one of the first who enthusiastically welcomed the idea of Non-Cooperation forwarded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920.
In 1939, when Mahatma Gandhi led Congress was talking of reaching a compromise with the British he sided with Subhas Chandra Bose and declared that no matter what Jamiat was ready to have a last battle with British imperialism.
(The ideas expressed are personal of the author)
